13/07/2024
THE MAID,THE BRIDE
Authoress Chidimma stories
Episode 2
Steven entered his room and walked to the table, picked up the file, and left the room. He went downstairs and walked out of the house.He headed to the garage,hopped into his car.His gateman,Sammy opened the gate, and the car drove away.
As Steven drove to work, he thought about his girlfriend, Cynthia. He recalled what she said: "So, you mean my coming here was just a waste of time?" Steven became upset with himself and wished he had not forgotten the file. He took his phone and dialed Cynthia number but she refused answering the call.
Steven arrived at his company and parked his car in the parking lot. He got out and walked into the company. As soon as he entered the company, his employees eyes were on him.
"Welcome back sir"One of his worker said
"Thank you"Steven answered and climbed the stairs
Steven got to his office,opened the door and walked to his desk,he sat on the chair and switched on the computer and started typing on the project he hadn't completed earlier.
As he worked, his mind kept wandering back to Cynthia and their argument. He felt guilty for forgetting the file and knew he needed to make things right with her. But for now, he focused on his work, trying to push their disagreement to the back of his mind.
Suddenly the door creaked open and his friend Jude entered the office.Steven looked up and was surprised to see his friend,
"Ah Jude,you're here!"he said and stood up from his chair
They both shook hands, and Jude sat on the chair.
"How far guy?"Jude asked
"I'm fine and you?"Steven answered
"I'm good"Jude answered
"How is your girlfriend?"Jude asked
"She is fine, just that I offended her," Steven responded.
"Ah! what happened?"Jude asked
"Hmm...this morning while I was working on a project.I discovered that I had forgotten an essential file for the customer work, so I decided to rush home to get it. I was about to leave when Cynthia walked into the office, and I told her that I needed to rush home because I had forgotten a file to use for a customer project, and she immediately became annoyed."Steven stated
"She got angry even after you told her it was a file to work on a customer project?"Jude asked.
"Yeah," Steven responded.
"It surprises me that she got angry because you wanted to go home to get an important file for a project," Jude said.
" I was surprised too. She has been acting strange lately, like she is not listening to me or understanding me."Steven answered
"Maybe you should talk to her, figure out what is going on. You two are always so in sync."Jude leaned
"I feel like we are drifting apart. And it's not just this file thing..."Steven answered
"Well, you need to fix things right man. You two are meant to be together."Jude said
"Yeah I will"Steven answered
He agreed to make things right with Cynthia, no matter what it took.
"So how is your new maid?"Jude asked
"She is fine, man. That girl can cook very well, and her dishes are superb."Steven answered
"Yeah, man, I can see that she is really spoiling you with delicious meals.Just two months you employed her, you're already looking like a well-fed king!"Jude chuckled
"She is not only a great cook, but also a talented baker. I'm telling you, Jude, she is a gem"Steven said
"Wow, that's amazing! I wish I had a maid like that. My place is always a mess, and my cooking skills are limited to microwaving pizza."Jude answered
"Yeah, I'm lucky to have her. She has been a huge help to me,my house has never been dirty since I employed her. The house is always clean".Steven grinned
"You're a lucky man, Steven. Enjoy your culinary paradise while it lasts"Jude said
"Yeah"Steven answered
Jude stood up,"Alright then, I'll let you get back to work. But seriously, Steven, make things right with Cynthia."Jude said
"Yes, for sure, I will. Thanks for the advice."Steven answered
Jude left the office
As soon as Jude left the office.Steven remembered Maryann mentioning that they were out of food supplies at home. He quickly pulled out his phone and sent a transfer of 50,000 naira to her account.
He thought to himself,"That should cover the foodstuffs and a little something extra. She has been working so hard to take care of the house and cook for me, it's the least I can do."
Maryann was ironing her boss next day outfit for work.When a message popped into her phone.she switched off the iron and took her phone and went through the message
"50,000 naira! Oh my goodness!" Maryann exclaimed
She couldn't believe it. She had only mentioned the lack of food supplies and was not expecting him to send her such a large amount of money.
"He has always been a good boss to me, but this is beyond what I expected" she thought to herself.
She quickly typed a thank you message and sent it to her boss
Maryann quickly finished ironing the clothes and headed to the market.
In the kitchen
Maryann was stirring a pot of egusi soup.The aroma of the soup filled the kitchen. She added a pinch of salt and pepper,she tasted the soup to ensure it was perfect.
"Knock!Knock!"
"Who is that?"Maryann asked,she opened the back door
"Mary,Mary"Sammy giggled
Maryann laughed out loud, "Hahaha,I know you're hungry, Sammy"
"Yes I am.The aroma of the soup has filled the whole compound.The smell of that egusi soup is driving me crazy"Sammy answered
"'I am almost done cooking. I'll bring your food to you okay"Maryann said
"Okay, Thank you! I'll be waiting" He answered
Sammy turned and headed back to his quarter.
Maryann returned to her cooking, having already finished preparing soup.She heated water to prepare semovita.As the water boiled, she carefully poured in the wheat,stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming. She kept stirring until the mixture thickened, transforming into a smooth semovita.She dished out Sammy food and carried it to his quarters.
Sammy was seated outside, waiting for dinner.Maryann approached and handed him his food.
"Sammy,here is your food"She said
"Thank you"He appreciated
Sammy relaxed on a plastic chair,enjoying the evening air.When he heard the distinctive sound of his boss car horn. "peep,peep,peep!"
He quickly jumped up from his seat and hurried to the gate.He opened the gate and his boss car drove into the compound.
The car parked at the garage and Steven stepped out of the car.
Sammy rushed to him and greeted"Sir, welcome"
"How are you doing, Sammy?"Steven asked
"I'm fine, sir." Sammy replied
"Alright"Steven said and walked towards the house, while Sammy walked to the opposite direction, heading to his quarter.
Steven got to the balcony and pressed the doorbell button. Maryann opened the door
"Welcome sir," she greeted.
"Thank you"he answered
"How was work sir?"She asked
"It was good. Just busy as usual." he answered
Steven stepped into the sitting room
"Something smells delicious," he said
"Sir I prepared egusi and semovita for dinner." Maryann replied
"Great.Thats my favorite soup." he said.
Without another word, he quickly climbed the stairs to his room while Maryann went to the kitchen.
Few minutes later, Steven returned downstairs to the dining room. He sat down on the chair. Just then, Maryann came out of the kitchen, holding a tray laden with steaming plates of egusi soup and semovita. She smiled as she placed the plates on the dining table in front of Steven
"Enjoy your meal, sir," she said and left
Steven ate the food and was nodding his head as it danced on his taste buds. The egusi soup was indeed delicious.After finishing his meal, he called out, "Maryann! Maryann! Maryann!"
Maryann hurried out of the kitchen"Yes sir"
"Thank you for the delicious meal." Steven appreciated
"It's nothing, sir."Maryann said
Steven walked to the sitting room, settling into the sofa chair while Maryann gathered up the plates and took them to the kitchen
Steven took his phone and dialed Cynthia number. She answered
"Hello baby, I'm sorry for what happened today." Steven said
"Steven.I'm so angry with you, I came to see you at your office and you take me as a trash." Cynthia responded
"No baby, not like that."Steven pleaded
"Then what's it like?"Cynthia asked
"Baby, I forgot an important file to work on a customer project and decided to go home to bring it, when you showed up." Steven responded
"You always do this, Steven! You always push me away when I need you most. I came to your office, and you barely had time for me. You're never available when I need you, but you're always busy with work. It feels like I'm not important to you anymore." Cynthia yelled
"Not so baby"He said
Cynthia hung up the call
"Hello baby, baby! Are you with me?" Steven asked
But there was only silence. He looked at the screen and saw that it was dead. It dawned on him that she had hung up on him.
"What!! She ended the call on me!" he exclaimed
Maryann walked to the sitting room and, as she heard her boss shout, she became scared and asked, "What's the problem, sir? What's it?"
"Oh... Maryann, it's nothing." He answered
"Are you sure sir?"Steven asked
"Yes I'm sure"
To be continued